4 of 4The interior is a solid combination of sporty styling and comfort.

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ASSOCIATE TECHINCAL EDITOR BRAD CONSTANT: I've always liked Nissan's Z ever since I laid eyes on a 1969 Nissan Fairlady Z as a kid. My liking holds firm with the latest generation, which is a fun, sporty ride that looks good as both a coupe and a roadster.

However, the roadster looks far better with the top down. I wasn't lucky enough to have much quality top-down weather, though.

Still, it was a fun experience. I cranked up the heat and turned the seat-heater to high before pulling out of my driveway. Both were enough to combat the chilly temperatures.

It was during this drive that I realized: This car not only looks better with the top down, it's far more pleasant to drive in the form, too. There is a lot of driving noise that comes in through the soft top when it's up. That same noise is there with the top down, but as a driver you don't mind it when the wind can whip at your hair.

The engine note sounds good, and the power from the 3.7-liter V6 is nice. I was able to work the clutch smoothly, but I did notice that the traction control kicked in quickly. I found myself turning it off whenever I wanted to have some fun within the limits of the law.

But what impressed me the most was how tiny the trunk is. I didn't know that you could build something that needed instructions to put in one golf bag. I opened up the trunk with my hockey bag on my shoulder and started laughing. A quick change of plans and I drove off with my bag in the passenger's seat. I guess that's why this wouldn't be a daily driver.

My biggest beef is the price -- I'd lose some of the fancy options to keep it low.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: There's something about this clutch pedal or the takeup that makes this 370Z hard to launch smoothly. The clutch effort is where I like it to be, but maybe the engagement is too sensitive. The shift action is a little notchy as well.

Those complaints aside, the 370Z is fun to drive fast and throw around. The traction control kicks in pretty early, so you do have to disengage it to get the rear end going, but once you do, it's simple to flick out.

I still like the metallic engine note, but not as much as I once did. Power is good from the 3.7-liter V6, even with the surprisingly portly weight of this convertible. The coupe weights 150 pounds less, for what it's worth, and costs $8,250 less.

The 370Z does have a bouncy ride, which an owner would have to get used to. And this is coming from an enthusiast who would take a Caterham for a daily driver. There are certain parts of my commute that I would probably start avoiding if I owned this car.

I like the latest styling a bit better than I did when I first saw it. They defanged it from the previous year, but added tall skinny fog lights that look great, especially on the hardtop. Like almost all convertibles, it looks way better with the top down.

It seems a bit expensive at more than $50k as-tested. But the convertible top and Touring trim make up the bulk of that. I'll take a stripped-down coupe with cloth seats, please.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The Z car is all about having fun while driving -- especially with the top down. There are other, better sports cars and convertibles on the market, depending on what the buyer is seeking, but this is a well-rounded, handsome roadster.

Like others, I'd drop a few options to lower the Nissan's price, which would make it more competitive.

The looks are excellent. The curves and the elegant lights punctuated by semi-crazy wheels make for an athletic appearance. This is a sexy car, and fans of the Z will be taken with it. From a design standpoint, I count myself among them. It stands out from all competitors, and it has a dramatic presence on the road.

The Z drives big, considering it's not. It can be tough to feel out the corners, and at times it feels heavy. The roof looks gorgeous down -- not nearly as good up. While driving with the roof open is a great thrill, with the compartment closed it's loud, windy and shaky. Power is strong from the 3.7-liter V6, and I found the six-speed manual to be fun to operate and reasonably smooth. The chassis is unsettled over bad roads, but most convertibles are.

Still, the joy of driving this car with the top down, soaking in the sights and sounds is fantastic. The cool blasts of wind were blunted by the strong heater and seat burners. The Z reminds the driver of what's right in the world and what's great about convertibles.